Electrical junction assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly for providing a common electrical connection between a number of separate external conductors. A plurality of electrically coupled socket contacts are mounted within a twopart insulating housing. Each socket contact is provided with an encircling spring element, having a detent extending into the exterior of the socket and a radially projecting spout portion on the exterior. The detent locks the socket to an inserted pin contact attached to an external conductor, and the spout receives a lever tool which deflects the spring element so as to disengage the detent. Contact openings and access openings in the housing are aligned respectfully with the sockets and the spout portions.

Elite States atent Feldherg [15] 3,652,977 51 Mar. 28, R972 ELECTRICAL JUNCTION ASSEMBLY Primary ExaminerStephen J. Novosad Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer [72] Inventor: Leonard H. Feldberg, Spring Valley, N.Y. Atmmey Howard S Reiter [73] Assignee: Burndy Corporation 22 Filed: May 28, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] APPL No; 41 288 An assembly for providing a common electrical connection between a number of separate external conductors. A plurality of electrically coupled socket contacts are mounted within [52] U.S. Cl. ..339/l98 R, 279/29, 339/242, a woman insulating housing Each socket Contact i provided 5 1 Cl 339/256 fig with an encircling spring element, having a detent extending E 23 6 2 3 into the exterior of the socket and a radially projecting spout 339/241 25!, 279/24 portion on the exterior. The detent locks the socket to an iny 387/1310. serted pin contact attached to an external conductor, and the spout receives a lever tool which deflects the spring element 5 References Cited so as to disengage the detent. Contact openings and access openings in the housing are aligned respectfully with the UNITED STATES PATENTS sockets and the spout portions.

......................... G 5 Claims 8 Drawing Figures 3,449,708 6/1969 Lawrence et al ..339/l98 H FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 239,315 9/1925 Great Britain ..339/262 604,841 7/1948 Great Britain "339/262 76 h 16g 5 2 I P, I 2 45 50 E '1, I! r I l 42 F I i 1. 7/ i I {H i m 1' l 15 I} l l l A/ mit 11/1 m al 1\ 7y /A 24 4 I k 12 40 46 |q PATENTED RZB I912 3,652,977

SHEET 2 0F 2 79' l I J I 16 26 "r" H 14 a s 26 .I i l l I 15 I! ||l I "'JHH 12 30 I v INVENTOR.

3 Leonard b. Fifldberg EI'YORNEK ELECTRICAL JUNCTION ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to electrical connector assemblies which form a conveniently attachable and detachable common electrical connection between a plurality of external conductors. That is, this invention relates to an electricaljunction.

In the prior art, means for interconnecting a plurality of separate conductors have been provided in the form of ter minal blocks. In most cases, the connections between the external conductor and the common path of the terminal block have been made through solder, crimp or screw-type terminals. The nature of these prior art terminal connections has made it difficult to provide an interconnecting assembly in which conducting parts are completely enclosed within an insulating housing, and which nevertheless, permits convenient attachment and separation of individual conductors without exposing other energized conductive parts. Nevertheless, it is highly desirable for junction connection devices to have these capabilities.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an electrical junction assembly in which the conductive electrical parts are substantially entirely enclosed within an insulating housing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a junction assembly of the class described in which individual external conductors may be conveniently attached to and detached from the common electrical path.

Still other objects of this invention include providing a junction assembly which is simple and inexpensive to construct, which may be attached readily to supports and other junction assemblies, and which may be repaired or replaced conveniently.

A feature of this invention in the use of a unitary subassembly of interconnected electrical socket contacts, which is mounted within a recess in one part of an insulating housing and is confined in position by a cooperating second part of the housing defining an enclosure with the recess.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of socket contacts having an encircling detent spring for locking in inserted pin contacts, which includes a release engaging spout accessible from the exterior of the housing of the completed assembly.

These, and other further objects, features and advantages of this invention are more clearly described and specifically pointed out in the following specification and claims, and are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of several junction assemblies mounted in adjacent relationship;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, side elevation view, partially in section, of the principal elements of this junction assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled elements of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the assembled elements of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, pictorial representation of a socket contact and detent spring, showing details of these elements not apparent in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of a mounting block suitable for securing completed assembly together as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial side section view of the elements of FIG. 2 shown in assembled relationship with a mating external contact and a release tool in operative position; and

FIG. 8 is an end section elevation view taken in plane 8-8 of FIG. 7 with the mating pin contact shown removed from the socket and with the release tool omitted entirely.

More specifically, FIG. 2 of the drawings shows an assembly in accordance with this invention which includes a housing having two parts 10 and 12, a socket contact subassembly 14 having individual sockets 16 coupled together on a base 18, and spring bands 20 mounted on the sockets.

Mounting lugs 22, 24 are provided on housing parts 10, 12 for assembling the housing as shown in partial section view in FIG. 7. Aligned openings 38, 40 in these lugs, permit insertion of mounting block 42 for securing the housing parts 10, 12 together. I

The mounting block 42 includes a rectangular head portion 44 and a generally tubular tail portion 46 which fits within aligned openings 38, 40 in lugs 22, 24. As shown in FIG. 7, the end of tail portion 46 may be flared outwardly in rivet fashion, after insertion, to form a secure fastening. A central opening 48, which extends through the tail portion is continued through the head portion in order to provide a convenient mounting hole for coupling the housings to other supports or to each other. A transverse mounting hole 50 is provided, also, for the same purpose.

The dimension A of head as, as shown in FIG. 6, measured parallel to hole 50, is preferably greater than the perpendicular dimension B. These dimensions are related to the distance between aligned openings 38, 40 and the side wall 52 of part 10, in such a way that head 44 can only be positioned with hole 50 aligned in the proper orientation.

An enclosure is defined by space 26 within part 10 when the housing is assembled. Socket contact subassembly 14 is captured within the enclosure between the front wall 28 of part 10 and the rear wall 30 of part 12.

The housing parts 10 and 12 preferably are formed of dielectric material so that the electrically conductive socket subassembly is substantially, completely surrounded by an insulating enclosure. A rim 60, surrounding the contact openings 32, on the exterior of housing part It) performs a related insulating function for the exposed part of mating pin contacts engaged in sockets 16.

Positioning means for locating the sockets 16 relative to the housing include the contact openings 32 in front wall of part 10, and the shoulders or cradles 34 in rear wall 30 of part 12. A radial projection 36 near the front end of each socket 16 is used for this purpose, also. As shown in partial section view in FIG. 7, the forward end of a socket 16 fits within a contact opening 32 for lateral positioning, while radial projection 36 limits axial movement of the socket through the opening. Similarly, lateral positioning for the rearward end of sockets 16 is provided by cradles 34, and axial movement is limited by rear wall 30.

Each socket 16 is generally tubular in shape. A central bore 54 is provided for receiving mating pin contacts. As shown in FIG. 5, a generally flat outer surface portion 56 extends longitudinally along the exterior of the socket from the forward end. An aperture 58 extends radially through the flat surface 56 into the central bore 54. The function of flat surface 56 and aperture 58 is directly related to spring band 20, as described below.

Spring band 20 has a generally tubular shape formed of spring material which encircles the exterior of a socket 16 along part of the socket length. It is slit at 62 from one end to the other, at an angle to the central axis. This construction provides two oppositely extending spring legs 64, 66, which have the effect of encircling more than 360 of the circumference of socket 16. As a result, the spring band can be deflected significantly relative to the socket without becoming disengaged.

A spout-shaped projection 68 is formed at one end of the spring band 20, generally opposite the slit 62. The projection extends radially and outwardly at the edge of one end of the spring band, and extends longitudinally toward the other end. Along the length of the projection toward the other end, it tapers inwardly in both the radial direction and the tangential direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.

A transverse portion 70 extends across the cross section of spring band 20 toward the end opposite the spout. In relation to the shape of the spring band, it has the nature of a chord across a circle. It is aligned generally with the spout, opposite the slit 62.

When spring band 20 is positioned on a socket 16, the transverse portion 70 extends across the aperture 58 in the socket, to form an obstruction across central bore 54. Engagement of the transverse portion 70 with aperture 53 serves to position the spring band 20 relative to socket 116, and maintains spoutshaped projection 68 in alignment with flat outer surface portion 56.

In order to withdraw transverse portion 76) from within the central bore 54, a pointed instrument 72 is inserted into spout 68. The instrument 72 acts as a lever between flat outer surface portion 56 and spring band 24) to deflect the transverse portion outwardly from the central bore 54. Positioning the transverse portion 70 remotely from the entrance to spout 68, permits insertion of instrument 72 without interferring with the transverse portion.

A mating pin contact 74 is provided for insertion into sockets 16 within the central bore 54. Along the length of the pin contact there is a circumferential groove '76 which interlocks with transverse portion 769 within the socket. Withdrawal of a pin contact 74 from a socket i6 is prevented by this interlock until it is disengaged by inserting instrument 112 into spout 68.

Extensions 78 are provided on contact openings 32 in front wall 28 of part W, to guide insertion of instruments 72 into spout as. Alignment of the spouts with these extensions is assured by the positioning of sockets in and flat outer surface portions 6 during assembly.

The invention has thus been described but it is desired to be understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or usages shown and described, the same being merely illustra tive, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention; therefore, the right is broadly claimed to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appendent claims, and by means of which objects of this invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish these results.

What is claimed is:

B. An electricaljunction assembly, comprising:

a housing of dielectric material, including a first part and a second part secured together defining an enclosure;

a socket contact subassembly confined within the housing enclosure, including a plurality of generally tubular sockets coupled in side-by-side, spaced-apart relationship;

a generally tubular spring band, resiliently encircling more than 360 of the periphery of a tubular socket, having a slit extending through the band from end to end at an angle to the central axis;

and, means positioning each of said sockets relative to said housing;

said spring band being characterized by: a front end, a back end, a spout-shaped radial projection at the front end tapered inwardly toward the back end to receive a lever instrument, and a transverse portion at the back end extending across the band generally in the nature ofa cord across a circle;

each of said sockets having: a forward end, a rearward end, a central bore extending through the forward end for receiving a mating pin, a general flat outer surface portion extending longitudinally from the forward end, and an aperture spaced from the forward end extending radially through the flat outer surface portion into the central core;

said housing having a plurality of contact openings, located in alignment with the central bores of said sockets, and a plurality of access openings aligned with said spoutshaped projections;

wherein, the spring bands are positioned on the tubular sockets with the spout-shaped projections aligned with the flat outer surface portion, and the transverse portion of the spring band is located within the aperture of the tubular socket forming a partial obstruction across the central bore for resiliently engaging a mating 2. An electrical unction assembly in accor ance with claim It, wherein:

said first part of said housing includes a generally elongate recess, with a front wall extending in the longitudinal direction having said contact and said access openings formed therein and with a back opening substantially opposite said front wall; said second part of said housing being a generally elongate plate member forming a closure against said back opening defining said enclosure and confining said socket contact subassembly against the said front wall. 3. An electricaljunction assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said first and said second parts of said housing each include extending mounting lugs at opposite longitudinal ends thereof having aligned openings; and, said means securing said first and said second parts together includes a mounting block having a transverse hole therethrough and a substantially tubular longitudinal extension disposed with the aligned openings of said mounting lugs having a flanged end portion preventing withdrawal of said extension from said openings. 4. An electrical junction assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said means positioning said sockets relative to said housing includes a radial projection located on the outer surface of each socket between the front end thereof and the said aperture therein; the said forward end of each contact being disposed within a corresponding contact opening in said housing part, and said radial projection engaging said housing part to limit passage of said socket into said contact opening. d. An electricaljunction assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said access openings comprise extensions of said contact openings, extending from the periphery thereof to define a combined, noncircular contact and access opening for each socket contact. 

1. An electrical junction assembly, comprising: a housing of dielectric material, including a first part and a second part secured together defining an enclosure; a socket contact subassembly confined within the housing enclosure, including a plurality of generally tubular sockets coupled in side-by-side, spaced-apart relationship; a generally tubular spring band, resiliently encircling more than 360* of the periphery of a tubular socket, having a slit extending through the band from end to end at an angle to the central axis; and, means positioning each of said sockets relative to said housing; said spring band being characterized by: a front end, a back end, a spout-shaped radial projection at the front end tapered inwardly toward the back end to receive a lever instrument, and a transverse portion at the back end extending across the band generally in the nature of a cord across a circle; each of said sockets having: a forward end, a rearward end, a central bore extending through the forward end for receiving a mating pin, a generally flat outer surface portion extending longitudinally from the forward end, and an aperture spaced from the forward end extending radially through the flat outer surface portion into the central bore; said housing having a plurality of contact openings, located in alignment with the central bores of said sockets, and a plurality of access openings aligned with said spout-shaped projections; wherein, the spring bands are positioned on the tubular sockets with the spout-shaped projections aligned with the flat outer surface portion, and the transverse portion of the spring band is located within the aperture of the tubular socket forming a partial obstruction across the central bore for resiliently engaging a mating pin.
 2. An electrical junction assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said first part of said housing includes a generally elongate recess, with a front wall extending in the longitudinal direction having said contact and said access openings formed therein and with a back opening substantially opposite said front wall; said second part of said housing being a generally elongate plate member forming a closure against said back opening defining said enclosure and confining said socket contact subassembly against the said front wall.
 3. An electrical junction assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said first and said second parts of said housing each include extending mounting lugs at opposite longitudinal ends thereof having aligned openings; and, said means securing said first and said second parts together includes a mounting block having a transverse hole therethrough and a substantially tubular longitudinal extension disposed with the aligned openings of said mounting lugs having a flanged end portion preventing withdrawal of said extension from said openings.
 4. An electrical junction assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said means positioning said sockets relative to said housing includes a radial projection located on the outer surface of each socket between the front end thereof and the said aperture therein; the said forward end of each contact being disposed within a corresponding contact opening in said housing part, and said radial projection engaging said housing part to limit passage of said socket into said contact opening.
 5. An electrical junction assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said access openings comprise extensions of said contact openings, extending from the periphery thereof to define a combined, non-circular contact and access opening for each socket contact. 